Heavy rainfall above 100 mm expected in parts of the island

Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology forecast showers or thunderstorms across much of the island, particularly after 1 p.m. Rupavahini News said coastal parts of the Western Province and the Galle, Puttalam, Mannar and Jaffna districts could also have morning rain.

Forecasts differed by area and rainfall threshold. Rupavahini and Newsfirst reported that some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Central provinces, as well as Trincomalee and other named districts, could receive more than 75 mm. Daily Mirror reported the possibility of falls above 100 mm in parts of the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Matara, Galle and Puttalam. Ada Derana’s Sinhala headline additionally identified Sabaragamuwa, Central and Badulla, while a Newswire headline flagged a separate advisory for those areas; its teaser is incomplete.

Newswire reported that a severe-lightning advisory issued at 11.30 a.m. on the 17th applied until 11.30 p.m. It said red alerts covered 16 districts and amber alerts nine, and forecast severe lightning in several places across the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and Mullaitivu District. The department also warned of temporary, localised strong winds during thunderstorms.

The public was urged to reduce lightning risks by sheltering indoors, avoiding open ground and water, and not using wired phones or connected electrical equipment during storms. The advisory also cautioned against travel in exposed vehicles, including bicycles, tractors and boats, and advised vigilance around fallen trees and power lines; emergencies should be reported to local disaster-management authorities. Rupavahini separately noted possible dawn mist in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces. Newsfirst reported that landslide warnings for eight districts remained in effect.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.